We're going to begin our worship by singing to God's praise in Psalm 93.
Let's sing Psalm's version, Psalm 93.
We'll sing the whole of this Psalm, verse 1 to 5.
The tune is St. Magnus.
The Lord is King, His throne endures, majestic in His height.
The Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength and might.
We'll stand to sing, if you're able, to God's praise.
The Lord is King, His throne endures, majestic in His height.
The Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength and might.
The world is founded firm and sure, removed it cannot be.
Your throne is strong and you are God from all eternity.
The seas, O Lord, have lifted up, they lifted up their voice.
The seas, O Lord, have lifted up their waves and made a mighty noise.
The Lord in whom, whom are strong, more powerful is He.
than thunder of the ocean's waves, or breakers of the sea.
Your royal structures.
Your royal statues, Lori's thongle, unchanging is Your word.
and holiness adores you us
for endless days, O Lord.
We unite our hearts in a short word of prayer.
Let us pray.
Our Father in heaven,
we do rejoice in your goodness to us,
that you are a God who blesses us so abundantly
and help us to be thankful each day
for all that is ours,
for all that we enjoy from your hand,
the food that we have,
the homes, the families,
the church that we enjoy coming to here
and learning more about you
and experiencing you
and being encouraged then to share
the good news of the gospel with others.
And we thank you, Lord,
that you have blessed us
with the promise of your Son,
the Savior, Jesus Christ.
And in all that we do,
we want to know more of him,
that we might love him with all our hearts
and experience him with us
all the days of our lives.
We thank you that that is your promise
as we put our trust in you,
that you will not leave us at any time,
but that you will be our constant companion.
So may you bless us,
each one here today.
Bless our young people
as we thank you for them.
We pray that you will be with them
in school and nursery
and in the Sunday school
and Crescent tweenies here.
May you watch over each one,
O Lord,
as we commit them to your care.
And we ask that you will hear
all our prayers at this time
and throughout this day
as we worship you.
Lord, may we rejoice in you
and be glad in you
and give thanks to you
for all that is ours
in you and in your son
as we ask it with the forgiveness
of our sins.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
It's a good thing to come together
and worship God.
It's a real blessing and encouragement
to see everyone who comes in
through these doors today
and everyone chins in online as well,
that we have that desire
to worship God
and to enjoy Him.
Now what about this week?
How have you enjoyed this past week?
What about the weather?
What a transformation
in the weather this week.
The sun being out
and it being so warm.
We went from,
I think it was hailstoning
the week before
to the sun cream coming out this week
and everybody just seems so happy.
Everybody just seems
to be enjoying themselves
so much when the sun is out
and the weather is good.
You may have got
the trampoline out this week
in the hope that now
the gales are past
that you can put the trampoline up
and enjoy that again
being out in the good weather.
You may have got
a paddling pool out this week
or something to enjoy
because it was so warm.
Maybe you bought ice cream
to enjoy
because that helps
to cool you down.
But it's amazing
the difference
the good weather makes.
And this week,
a couple of times
I was out in the castle grounds
and you meet a lot
of different people
out in the castle grounds
but this week in particular
everybody just seemed
so happy.
Nobody's head was down
into the rain.
They were all up
all saying good morning
or good afternoon.
Hello, how are you?
Everybody was just so happy.
I even bumped into
two of our elders
in the church here
and they were smiling
and happy.
I know it's hard to believe
but yes,
they were smiling
enjoying themselves
out in the sun.
It just makes
such a difference
to people.
And then you begin
to forget about
the winter
and the gales
and the rain
but then they'll
come again
at some point.
But it's good
to enjoy
the good weather
and to have something
that makes us happy
in these days.
But it's a reminder
too that it's not
just about the weather
to make us happy,
is it?
When we think
of what the Bible
teaches to us,
it reminds us
that it's not just
about great days
of sunshine
that we are
to be happy
but that whatever
we experience
in life
we can be happy
in Jesus.
That he is the one
who gives us
through joy
and through delight.
In John chapter 15,
there Jesus is
talking to his disciples
and talking to us
and he's saying
to abide in him
and to abide in him
for a reason.
He says
in verse 11
of that chapter,
these things
I have spoken
to you
that my joy
may be in you
and that your joy
may be full.
And he's saying
that it's not just
for sunny days
that we are
to be full of joy
but even the days
when it's raining
and cold
and snowing,
we can still know
the joy of the Lord
and joy to the full.
You see,
when you know Jesus,
that means
that you have
his joy,
his joy in your heart,
a joy that passes
all understanding
as the Bible says,
a joy that is inexpressible.
We just almost
don't know how to show it
but it just comes
through in us.
The sun brings joy
out of us
but Jesus brings
all joy
to us
and out of us.
So may we enjoy
him today
and every day
and may we shine
with his joy
and his beauty
to all around us.
So may God bless
these thoughts
to us.
We're going to say
the Lord's Prayer
together now.
Our Father,
which art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done
on earth
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day
our daily bread
and forgive us
our debts
as we forgive
our debtors.
And lead us not
into temptation
but deliver us
from evil
for thine is the kingdom
the power
and the glory
forever.
Amen.
We're going to
sing again
to God's praise
now in Psalm 90
this time in the
Scottish Psalter version.
Psalm 90
page 349
of the Psalm books.
And the tune
is Arlington.
Psalm 90
at verse 1
we sing down
to verse 4.
Lord, thou hast
been our dwelling
place in generations
all, before thou ever
hadst brought forth
the mountains
great or small.
We'll sing to God's praise
verse 1
to verse 4.
Amen.
Lord, thou hast been
our dwelling place
and generations
all, before thou ever
hast gone forth,
before thou ever
hadst brought forth
the mountains
great or small.
earth and all the world
and all the world abroad
in life from everlasting
amaz온 that
all.
In thy
earth for everlasting
worth.
wurde, the rest of
world
to everlasting
God.
And unto them thou sittest again,
His sons of men return.
Because a thousand years appeared,
No more before thy sight.
Than yesterday when it is past,
For thou art now watch by night.
And we're going to turn to reading God's word in the Old Testament,
And near the end of the Old Testament in the book of Habakkuk.
The book of Habakkuk.
You'll find this around page 948 in the Bibles.
Habakkuk.
We're going to read chapter 1 and just into chapter 2, verse 1.
Habakkuk chapter 1.
The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw.
O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,
And you will not hear,
Or cry to you violence,
And you will not save?
Why do you make me see iniquity,
And why do you idly look at wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me,
Strife and contention arise,
So the law is paralyzed,
And justice never goes forth,
For the wicked surround the righteous,
So justice goes forth perverted.
Look among the nations and see,
Wonder and be astounded,
For I am doing a work in your days,
That you would not believe if told.
For I am raising up the Chaldeans,
That bitter and hasty nation,
Who march through the breadth of the earth,
To seize dwellings not their own.
They are dreaded and fearsome,
Their justice and dignity go forth from themselves.
Their horses are swifter than leopards,
More fierce than the evening wolves.
Their horsemen press proudly on,
Their horsemen come from afar,
They fly like an eagle,
Swift to devour.
They all come for violence,
All their faces forward.
They gather captives like sand,
At kings they scoff,
And at rulers they laugh.
They laugh at every fortress,
For they pile up earth and take it.
Then they sweep by like the wind,
And go on,
Guilty men,
Whose own might is their God.
Are you not from everlasting,
O Lord my God,
My Holy One?
We shall not die,
O Lord.
You have ordained them as judgment,
And you, O Rock,
Have established them for reproof.
You are of purer eyes than to see evil,
And cannot look at wrong.
Why do you idly look at traitors,
And are silent when the wicked swallows up,
The man more righteous than he?
You make mankind like the fish of the sea,
Like crawling things that have no ruler.
He brings all of them up with a hook,
He drags them out with his net,
He gathers them in his dragnet,
So he rejoices and is glad.
Therefore he sacrifices to his net,
And makes offerings to his dragnet,
For by them he lives in luxury,
And his food is rich.
Is he then to keep on emptying his net,
And mercilessly killing nations forever?
I will take my stand at my watchpost,
And station myself on the tower,
And look out to see what he will say to me,
And what I will answer concerning my complaint.
So may God bless that reading from his word.
We'll again just unite our hearts in prayer.
Let us pray.
Lord our gracious God,
May you help us as we open up your word this day,
As we read it together,
And as we share from it,
That your word would minister to our hearts,
That you will help us to understand these words,
That we are reading and sharing together,
That you will help us to apply them to our lives,
And to our walk with you,
And to our witness to those around us.
For we realize that there are many parts in scripture,
That may leave us with a sense of wondering,
What you are saying to us.
Wondering maybe what you were saying to Habakkuk,
In his day,
And how that might apply to ourselves today.
And so help us in our understanding,
Lord,
To see that you have purposes for all your people down through every generation,
And that your way of salvation is always being worked out according to your will,
Even when your will goes against what we might pray for or be looking for.
We know that you know better,
And we pray to have faith in you,
To have that trust in you.
You have been reminded in the psalm that we sung there,
Psalm 90,
That a thousand years is like a day with you.
It reminds us that,
Although we want to see things change immediately and now,
That your plans and purposes so often take time to be worked out,
But that you have your picture in hand,
That you have all things under your control,
And that you will work all things according to your purpose.
And so,
Lord,
We pray for your comfort,
For your strength,
For your help on a daily basis,
That we would know your love towards us,
That we would know that you have remembered us,
And are remembering us constantly,
That not a day passes,
Lord,
When you are not aware of all our different needs.
Not a day passes when you are not aware of all that is going on around us.
And so,
Lord,
We come humbly before you.
We come acknowledging our own sin and our own frailties,
And praying to you,
Lord,
That you might come and draw near to us,
Give us your assurance,
Give us your comfort,
And give us your peace.
We pray that for us all here gathered,
Tuning in online,
And all around us,
Lord,
Who need you in particular ways.
We pray for those who mourn and grieve.
We commit them to your care,
And to your keeping,
Each one.
We know,
Lord,
That,
As we've been reminded in this past week,
That change comes upon us so quickly.
We are always reminded of it,
Lord,
Day by day.
And yet,
Help us to take heed.
Help us to see how you speak to us in all of these ways.
And your word ministers to us in the midst of it all,
Calling us to yourself,
To make our calling and election sure.
To make it a day when we would run to you.
A day we would seek to find you as our refuge,
As our help.
And so,
Lord,
We pray to you,
To you to surround us all,
And especially those with broken hearts at this time.
Remember those who are unwell as well,
In homes,
In hospital,
And in their own homes too,
Lord.
We commit each one to you.
Surround them and uphold them,
We pray,
As only you can.
Knowing,
Oh Lord,
That you have them in your hand as well.
That our very lives are in your hand.
That you care for us in that way and at each time.
So,
Lord,
Help us so we might take all our cares and our burdens to you.
We thank you too,
Lord,
For the work of the gospel.
We thank you for the witness of your church here in our community and far and wide.
And we do pray for your church,
Lord,
That you will build it up.
It does not belong to us.
It is not ours of our making in any way.
It is your church,
Your people,
Your people that you have bought with a price.
And help us to put you first in all things.
To seek first the kingdom of God and your righteousness.
And that then all things will be added to us.
And Lord,
We do pray for the word to go out with power.
We pray for your spirit to work.
In the work and witness of your people,
We thank you for all our young people.
We commit them to you.
We thank you for the youth fellowship,
Oh,
Lord.
And as they meet this evening,
May your blessing be upon them and upon Thomas Davis as he comes to speak.
We pray there will be an encouragement,
an encouraging time together.
Remember young people sitting exams just now.
As they prepare for them and as they go through them,
Lord,
That you will give them guidance and help along each step of the way.
Remember the free church seminary as well.
And the exams taking place there just now.
We pray for all the students.
Remember Scott as he is away just now,
Lord,
And pray for him as he comes to his last exam on Tuesday,
that you will be with them and uphold them through that and all others who are taking these exams just now as well.
We pray for those who are coming to the end of their time in the seminary and will be awaiting calls in these comings months.
We pray for your guidance to them,
your spirit to make clear to them where you would have them to go.
We pray for our presbytery in these days as well.
As we look back to our own presbytery meeting this week,
we know that Reverend Iamacritchie and Graver has accepted a call to Greyfriars in Inverness.
And we pray for him in his preparation to leave a congregation and to begin a new ministry.
We thank you for his years of ministry in Graver.
And we thank you for all the encouragements and blessings that he has seen.
And we do pray for the congregation as they prepare to see him go,
that they will remember that you are with them and that it is not any minister's ministry that counts,
but the blessing of God.
And so we pray,
Lord,
that you will surround them and uphold them.
We pray for Greyfriars as they prepare for a new ministry as well,
Lord,
that you will encourage and strengthen them.
And remember our presbyteries throughout our land,
O Lord,
where there is weakness,
where there is vacancy.
We pray,
Lord,
for your encouragement to each congregation and all your people.
Remember our general assembly to take place later on this month as it meets in Edinburgh.
We pray for the Reverend Bob Aykroyd as he prepares to come to the end of his time as moderator.
And we pray for the Reverend Colin McLeod as he prepares to take that role on,
that you will bless him and encourage him as he prepares for that and as he goes on,
God willing,
in this year ahead.
And we see so much around us,
Lord,
that are so many needs.
And we just pray,
Lord,
for your Spirit's help among us,
for you to move among us as a people,
Lord,
to hear our prayers and to help us,
Lord,
to always pray with that sense of your will be done.
Teach us your ways,
O Lord,
and help us to walk by them.
And all we ask,
we ask with the forgiveness of all our sins,
as we confess them anew before you,
in the name of our Lord and Saviour,
Jesus Christ.
May glory be his.
Amen.
We're going to sing again to God's praise
before we turn back to our reading in Habakkuk,
this time in Psalm 13,
page 14 of the Psalm books.
Psalm 13.
We'll sing the whole of this psalm,
and you'll see the words,
especially there in verse 1,
they resonate with what we've read in Habakkuk as well.
The same question from the psalmist,
how long will you forget me,
Lord?
Will you forget always?
How long,
Lord,
will you hide your face
and turn from me your gaze?
But then at verse 5,
we see the psalmist saying,
but still I trust your constant love.
You save and set me free.
With joy,
I will extol the Lord,
who has been good to me.
Let's sing the whole of this psalm,
the tune of St. Kilda.
We sing to God's praise.
Amen.
How long will you forget me,
Lord?
Will you forget always?
How long,
Lord,
will you hide your face
and turn from me your gaze?
How long must I be sad each day
in the perplexity?
How long will my opponent stand
in triumph over me?
O Lord,
my God,
consider me
and give me your reply.
Light up my eyes,
Lord,
I will see
the sick of those who die.
Then would my enemy
give them
at last I made them low.
And so my foes would sing for joy
to see my overthrow.
But still,
I trust your constant love.
You save and set me free.
With joy I will extol the Lord,
who has been good to me.
Well, let's turn back to a reading
in Habakkuk chapter 1.
Habakkuk chapter 1.
You can read at verse 5.
Look among the nations and see.
Wonder and be astounded.
For I am doing a work in your days
that you would not believe
if told.
I want us to begin a study
in Habakkuk today.
We're going to look at
through this book.
It seems as you begin to read it
that there's a lot of despair
and a lot of hopelessness here
as you begin to read
into Habakkuk's day
and all that was going on.
You see that there's
lots going on around him,
both in the sense of
nationally,
just around him,
among his own people.
There's a lot going on,
many problems.
Even internationally,
there's a lot going on as well.
A lot that leaves him confused.
There's corruption and chaos.
There's war and there's wrongdoing.
And it's something that you see
again and again
throughout the Old Testament.
You see these times
when there are things
that are going well
for God's people,
but so often you then see
it's followed by a time
where the tide turns,
as it were.
And there seems to be
nothing good,
nothing that gives hope
to God's people.
And it's maybe something
that we see ourselves today as well.
We think the tide
has turned against us.
And just like Habakkuk
has his questions here,
how long, O Lord?
As the psalmist in Psalm 13
was, which we were just singing,
how long, O Lord?
These are the kind of questions
that we can have ourselves as well.
But when you read through
the Old Testament
and when you come to read
from the prophets,
Habakkuk was a prophet
and you've got many other prophets
that we read from
in the Old Testament,
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel.
There's many of them
that came from God,
were sent by God
with a message.
Into these situations
where there seems to be
so much despair,
God speaks to his people.
And he speaks to them
a message that often begins
with a rebuke,
where they have gone wrong.
And there's always a challenge
in that,
to then show them
how they can find hope,
how they can reestablish,
as it were,
their relationship with God
and that there is that hope.
Now, often when you read
in the prophets,
what you find is
God has given the prophet
a message.
The likes of Isaiah,
God gave him a message
and Isaiah delivered
that message
to the people around him.
And that's where we learn
what God is saying to us.
But Habakkuk is slightly different.
He's a prophet.
He's got a message from God.
You see that in verse 1,
the oracle,
that Habakkuk,
the prophet, saw.
So he's got something
to give to the people
of his day.
He's got something to say
to ourselves today,
as well as a message
from God.
But the message,
as it were,
comes across
in a slightly different way.
Instead of
God just speaking
to Habakkuk,
saying,
tell my people this,
what you see is
it's more of a dialogue
between Habakkuk
and the Lord himself.
And as you're reading
through chapter 1 there,
you're seeing
that there's parts
where Habakkuk is speaking
and there's parts
where the Lord
is speaking to him.
And it's through
this engagement
that they have,
this conversation
that they have,
that we learn
and the people
in Habakkuk's day
learned as well.
In all that is wrong,
he is looking for hope
and he is looking for help.
In the midst of it.
And what you find
as you go through
Habakkuk, the book,
and what we want to see
in our study is
that in the midst
of all that is
maybe hard for us
to read,
all that seems
so hopeless
in so many different ways,
that there are gems
for us to find.
There are gems
for us to find.
Panning for gold
has been something
that people have done
for hundreds of years.
There have been gold rushes
in America,
in Australia,
even here in Scotland.
There's been times
when people have gone
hunting and finding gold,
not in huge quantities.
But to this day,
people still spend
a lot of time
taking time to go out
and go into streams
and digging into the earth,
sifting through mud
and stones,
panning as it is called,
using like a sieve
to clean the earth,
to clean the dirt away
in the hope of finding
just a little bit of gold.
Why, you ask,
would they do that?
Why would they spend
so much time doing that?
Well, it's because
gold is precious.
Even a small quantity,
even an ounce of gold,
is worth up to
around 2,000 pounds.
So that's why people spend
so much time
looking for gold.
And for ourselves,
as we come to God's Word,
it's a little like that
panning for gold.
We're going through,
for example,
this letter of,
this book of Habakkuk,
and we're looking through
all that seems to leave us
thinking,
what good is there here for us?
But to go through it
and sift our way through
and see that there are nuggets
of gold in here.
Nuggets of gold
that Habakkuk was given
to share with the people then
and to share with ourselves.
And there's five nuggets
I want us to see
as we study through this book.
Five different studies
we're going to have
looking at five different nuggets
of gold, as it were.
And the first one we have
is verse 5
here in chapter 1.
And at first glance,
it may seem
a little
out of the way
when we start to look
into chapter 1.
How is there gold?
How is there something precious
in the midst of this?
But we'll go through it today
and look at it
in three different ways.
In chapter 1,
verse 1 to 12 in particular,
we have first
a sense of confusion.
Then secondly,
we have a mysterious providence.
And then thirdly,
we're going to see
a warm embrace.
And we begin
with a sense
of confusion.
Verse 5 says to us,
Look among the nations
and see.
Wonder and be astounded,
for I am doing
a work in your days
that you would not believe
if told.
Where does this come from?
This has come
from God
to Habakkuk.
And it's come
as a result of
Habakkuk's complaint
as we see
in verse 2
to verse 4.
And it's in these
verses 2 to 4
that we see
this sense
of confusion
that Habakkuk has.
Have you ever
complained?
I'm sure we've all
complained
about different things
at different times.
And especially
when it comes
to time
and to how long
something is taking.
How long
until the food
will be ready?
How long
until we get there?
How long
are you going to take
to be ready?
How long
is this parcel
going to take
to arrive?
We have all these
complaints
that we make.
Complaints
surrounding time.
How long?
But have you ever
complained
to God
in that way?
How long
Lord?
Well that is
the complaint
that we see
from Habakkuk.
In verse 2
Oh Lord
how long
shall I cry
for help
and you will not hear?
Or cry
to your violence
and you will not save?
How long
will it take?
Psalm 13
was the same.
How long
will you forget
me Lord?
Will you forget
me?
Always.
Habakkuk
wasn't directing
what God
was saying
to him
straight to the
people.
Habakkuk
was engaging
with God
and he does
this
first of all
with this
complaint
with this
groaning
towards
God
in the midst
of all
that is happening
around him
nationally
but also
internationally
as well
as we will
see as you
go on
and we see
the Chaldeans
or the Babylonians
as they're known
as well
a people
who were
surrounding them
who would be
their enemies
for a time
as he's got
all of these
things going on
he cries out
asking God
are you going
to ignore this?
How long
Lord
will I cry
for help
and you
will not
hear?
What's
happening?
What's
happening
here
in Habakkuk's
day?
Well a writer
put it like
this
Habakkuk
the society
around Habakkuk
is tearing
itself apart
and when you
read through
verse 2
to 4
there you
see just
how
it is
tearing
itself
apart
I cry
to you
violence
and you
will not
save
violence
there
means
chaos
and
just
people
willfully
damaging
and taking
other people's
property
and livelihoods
there's all
this chaos
all around
verse 3
he says
to him
why do you
make me
see
iniquity?
Why am I
living in a
day where I'm
seeing so much
that is against
your cause?
so much
that is
morally
wrong
so much
that we
see people
calling
right
wrong
and wrong
right
his complaint
is saying
to God
why don't
you care?
Are you not
concerned
with all
that is
happening
around us?
Why do
you look
he says
in verse
3 there
and look
idly
at wrong?
Why are you
looking and
not doing
anything
about this?
This is
the complaint
that Habakkuk
has
and is
that a
complaint
that we
might have
against God
today?
Do you
feel like
that towards
God
today?
Like we
are in a
day as
never before
when we
look around
us and
see all
that is
wrong?
When we
are confused
by everything
that's
taking place
in life
whether it's
in our
own lives
lives of
our community
around us
life in
our nation
life in
the world
when there
is so much
wrong we
see it
again and
again
we see
tragedy
we see
murder
we see
political
and society
chaos
we see
confusion
in gender
confusion
in marriage
we see
greed
we see
poverty
and they're
next door
to each
other
we see
all of
these
things
we see
it on
a daily
basis
that's
the same
as Habakkuk
was seeing
as well
there are
times
again
and again
when we
see
just like
Habakkuk's
day
that was
repeated
again
and again
as you go
into the
New Testament
as you look
down through
the generations
you see it
happening
again and
again
and the
cry of
God's
people can
be the
same
why
how long
oh Lord
are we going
to cry
for help
and you
will not
hear
we cry
as if
God
is ignoring
it all
we complain
against
God
and when
you look
at verse
4 you see
what was it
the heart
of all
that was
wrong
in his
day
the law
is
paralyzed
and justice
never
goes
forth
the law
the word
of God
was paralyzed
we need a
standard
to work
from
when you
think of
manufacturing
there's always
a standard
that things
have to be
made
to
if they're
not
they will
not be
safe
things are
stamped
marked
as in
they've
passed
the test
they've
passed
the standard
but we
find that
people try
to find a
way around
that
people find
a way to
cheat these
things
but it
often costs
dearly
it often
costs in
so many
different
ways
we try
and find
a way
around
things
and that's
what's
happening
here
the law
is
paralyzed
the standards
that they were
working to
and from
are being
put away
to find
another way
of life
another way
of living
and when
that fails
when we move
away
from God's
ideal
to our
own ideas
what comes
chaos
and clashes
ensue
look at
this week
look at
the fear
of the
prospect
of our
nation
having a
Christian
first minister
you think
to yourself
how could
we come
to this
point
where
the immediate
reaction
is to try
and paralyze
that
to stop
that
we can't
have her
she's a
Christian
she's going
to take
us backwards
we've got
to paralyze
this
we've got
to stop
this
the law
is to be
paralyzed
but what
people are
saying
in that
is
we will
not have
God
rule over
us
we will
not have
God's
word
as our
standard
and Christ
is pushed
out
and we go
on in
chaos
blindly
continuing
in chaos
but they'll
call it
progress
and we
see it
all
around us
and we
can have
that same
cry
how long
oh Lord
will you
not hear
us
how long
will you
look
and do
nothing
in these
situations
is this
a cry
and a
complaint
without
hope
from
Habakkuk
well it's
not
it's a
pleading
with
God
his
prayer
may not
have been
answered
the way
he might
have
expected
it
or wanted
it
but he's
not
turning
away
he's
pleading
all the
more
with
God
to hear
and to
come
and to
act
but there's
a sense
of confusion
there's a
sense of
not
understanding
just why
all this
is happening
and that
can be ours
today as
well
we don't
understand
many
things
we will
ask how
long
we will
ask
why
but if
we
understood
everything
we wouldn't
need
faith
and what
Habakkuk
is showing
us here
is that
we still
need
to be
a people
of faith
even in
the midst
of the
confusion
that we
can feel
in all
that leaves
us
devastated
worried
and fearful
for all
that's
going on
around
us
so his
cry
his
complaint
has a
sense
of
confusion
and he's
asking
how long
will this
go on
Lord
will you
not
do
something
well the
second thing
we see
is a
mysterious
providence
in the
Lord's
answer
in verse
five
onwards
Habakkuk's
problem
was not
so much
what was
happening
what people
were doing
around him
it was
more what
God
wasn't
doing
that God
wasn't
doing
anything
but is
God
inactive
in Habakkuk's
situation
here
and we
ask ourselves
is God
inactive
in our
days
he not
doing
anything
in our
day
at our
prayers
not being
answered
well look at
the response
that God
gives
to Habakkuk
in verse
five
look he
says
look among
the nations
and see
wonder and
be astounded
for I am
doing a
work in
your days
that you
would not
believe
if told
this is
the nugget
that we're
looking for
today
this is
something
precious
that we're
looking at
today
but it
may not
seem
as a
great
comfort
immediately
as we
look at
it
this is
the Lord's
response
to Habakkuk's
claim that
God was
doing
nothing
but he
says
look
I am
doing a
work
in your
days
what work
is he
doing
how
are
things
going
to
change
in
Habakkuk's
day
and you
can begin
to maybe
feel a
sense of
anticipation
for
Habakkuk
the Lord
is saying
no I
am
taking
action
there's
this sense
of
excitement
maybe
in
Habakkuk
building
what's
he
going
to
do
is
this
going
to be
the
answer
as we
think
of a
prayer
in the
New
Testament
that the
Lord
is
going
to do
abundantly
more
than we
ask
or imagine
when there's
this sense
of you
would not
believe it
if told
what is
it that
is going
to come
is the
Lord going
to change
this turmoil
into peace
is he going
to bring
prosperity
and praise
of the
Lord once
again
is he going
to bring
revival
is he going
to deal
with all
the enemies
that surround
them
Habakkuk
and the
people
will be
waiting
with a
sense
of
anticipation
and excitement
what is
God
going
to do
well the
answer
is shocking
the answer
is in many
ways this
mysterious
providence
look at what
the Lord
says
in verse 6
for behold
I am
raising up
the Chaldeans
also known
as the
Babylonians
that bitter
and hasty
nation
and as you
read down
three these
verses down
to verse 11
you see
this is not
the answer
that Habakkuk
would have
been expecting
or wanting
I am doing
a work
that you would
not believe
if I told
but hold on
Lord
you're sending
the Chaldeans
you're sending
this Babylonian
army
this enemy
of ours
you're sending
them
whose might
is their God
as it says
in verse 11
you're sending
them
how can
any good
come from
this
how can
this be
what you
want
for us
well it's
because we
expect God
to work
in the ways
that we
want
but sometimes
God works
in different
ways
God works
in mysterious
ways
God works
in the ways
of providence
that we
cannot
understand
God brings
times
of chaos
God brings
times
of judgment
God's
goodness
is not
just seen
in days
of revival
God's
goodness
is not
just seen
in days
of blessing
we can
still see
God's
goodness
in the midst
of his
judgment
in the midst
of his
speaking to
us
in these
powerful ways
in the midst
of many
things that
we see
going on
around us
today
the tragedies
the wars
the pandemics
the chaos
that is
always there
can we not
see that
God is
still working
in the midst
of that
you see a little
of that in
verse 12
as Habakkuk
replies
are you not
from everlasting
O Lord
my God
we shall not
die O Lord
you have
ordained them
as a judgment
you have brought
them upon us
for judgment
and there
are times
when God
will bring
judgment
on his
people
and we
don't see
it as the
answer to
prayer
and yet
God
can use
even the
darkest
of days
to bring
glory
to himself
William Cooper
the hymn
writer
in the
1700s
he wrote
many different
hymns
but so many
of them
were written
in the midst
of his own
suffering
in life
he suffered
great periods
of depression
and very
dark times
and the
last hymn
that he wrote
maybe one
you've heard
of
you're familiar
with
God moves
in mysterious
ways
and he wrote
in that hymn
he wrote
some of the
verses
that said
this
God moves
in mysterious
ways
his wonders
to perform
he plants
his footsteps
in the seas
and rides
upon the storm
judge not
the Lord
by feeble
sense
but trust
him
for his
grace
behind a
frowning
providence
he hides
a smiling
face
his purposes
will ripen
fast
unfolding
every hour
the bud
may have
a bitter
taste
but sweet
will be
the flower
he's reminding
us in these
words that
God does
work
in mysterious
ways
and that
this was
a mysterious
providence
for Habakkuk
and the
people
then
the Lord
is saying
I am
working
I am
going to
do a
thing
in your
midst
that you
would not
believe
if I
told you
but it's
not what
they
wanted
but God
has a
purpose
God
is not
silent
God
is not
stationary
he is
active
he is
working
and that's
true for
us
today
as well
that God
in the
midst of
all that
we see
around us
can bring
good
and where
do we
see this
shown
to us
so much
well we
see it
as we
come to
the cross
we see
it as
we look
to the
cross
where
Christ
was
crucified
when we
think of
all the
chaos
all the
sin
around us
we would
say
there is
a way
to deal
with this
and God
is just
to destroy
our enemies
destroy
the sin
of this
world
but God
has said
I am
doing a
thing
in your
midst
that you
would not
believe
if I
told you
I am
giving
my son
I am
giving
my son
that he
might die
on the
cross
that in
the darkness
of the
cross
where all
hope seems
to be
gone
where the
people
feel
what is
happening
here
Jesus
cries
it is
finished
we don't
understand
it
we don't
just
comprehend
it so
much
as to
what it
actually
means
it's
not the
way
we would
have said
to God
look
Lord
do this
take care
of our
sins
in this
way
we would
never
have said
give
your son
to die
but that
is what
God
has done
for us
God's
ways
are not
our
ways
and that's
what we
have to
remember
in the
midst of
our
world
and all
its
chaos
that God
is doing
a work
sometimes
it'll be
through
times of
blessing
and times
of revival
but other
times it'll
be through
times of
chaos
but God
can still
bring a
people
to himself
in the
midst
of that
he can
restore
a people
he can
restore
a nation
through
his
judgment
through
his
mysterious
providence
at times
God
is working
but then
finally we
ask ourselves
in the midst
of this
confusion
in the
midst of
a mysterious
providence
of God
sending
a nation
of such
venom
against
his people
well what
hope is
there
in this
well the
final thing
I want
to see
here is
that there
is a
warm
embrace
when you
read through
this
you maybe
think well
things are
just so
difficult
that all
they have
to do
is just
grin
and bear
it
on their
own day
we think
well maybe
God's not
listening
all we have
to do is
just grin
and bear
it for a
time
put up
with it
but we
are reminded
here of
God's
grace
and God's
love
to his
people
how do we
see it
here and
how do we
know it
ourselves
well we
see it
in Habakkuk
when you
look at
verse 12
and verse
1 with
me
in verse
12
Habakkuk
says
are you
not from
everlasting
O Lord
my God
my Holy
One
we see
there
Habakkuk
has
confidence
he has
confidence
in God
yes he
has a
complaint
he is
groaning
against
him
but he
has
confidence
are you
not from
everlasting
O Lord
my God
so there's
confidence
in Habakkuk
he is
taking this
to God
and then
we remind
as you go
back to
verse 1
the oracle
that Habakkuk
the prophet
saw
that God
was using
Habakkuk
God was
using Habakkuk
to communicate
to his
people
to speak
to them
in the midst
of this
chaos
we don't
know much
about Habakkuk
but there's
one thing
we do
know
and that
is what
his name
means
Habakkuk
means
embrace
a hug
a warm
embrace
that is
what his
name
means
and when
you look
at the
prophets
and their
names
you often
learn
so much
from them
Isaiah
who was
sent by
God
means
salvation
is of
the Lord
Jeremiah
who was
sent by
God
means
God
will
raise
and so
here
there's no
coincidence
that Habakkuk
is used
by God
in the
midst
of this
chaos
to remind
us
that God
embraces
that God
is there
for his
people
when you
feel
sad
when you
feel
sorrowful
and you
need
encouragement
a warm
embrace
can give
so much
to us
and that
is what
we have
from God
here
a reminder
that in
the days
of chaos
that Habakkuk
was in
and in
our own
day and
age
just now
that God
is there
for us
remember
he sent
his prophets
he sent
Jeremiah
he sent
Jeremiah's
God
will raise
he sent
Isaiah
to say
salvation
is of
the Lord
he sent
Habakkuk
to say
there is
an embrace
but above
all
he sent
his son
a son
who says
come
to me
all
who
labor
and are
heavy laden
and I
will give
you rest
I will
give you
that embrace
and as
you go
through
the Bible
as you
go through
God's
working
salvation
among
his people
what we
see
again
and again
is God
moving
in his
ways
God
working
things
out
to
God
and he
is moving
things
for his
people
he is
moving
his work
of salvation, that we might come to him and find that hope in him. I am doing a work in your days
that you would not believe if I told. Well, you see, I want us to close with just three verses
that remind us of the embrace of God to his people. And it's three verses that show it
over a spectrum of time. We go back to Deuteronomy chapter 33, where God is speaking to his people
as they go in to the promised land. He's reminding them to always look to him. And he says in verse
27, the eternal God is your dwelling place and underneath are the everlasting arms.
There is a reminder there of the beginning of God's people. Underneath are the everlasting arms.
I will embrace you. I will hold you. There's a reminder for us in the New Testament,
as Jesus gave the parable of the prodigal son. In Luke 15, that parable that speaks of the son who
went away from his father, who wanted all his money to spend in riotous ways. He went away,
but then came to his senses. And he came back to the father, hoping just to be a servant
in his father's house. But what did his father do? In Luke 15, verse 20, his father arose
and came to him. And while he was a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion and ran
and embraced him and kissed him. That is that reminder that when we have gone far away from God,
when we have paralyzed God's word ourselves, we have turned our back on God, that when we come back to
him, he will embrace his people. He embraced him and kissed him. And the final one I want us to think
about is for our future and for all who trust in the Lord, that ultimately the day will come
when he will finally and fully embrace us to himself. In Revelation 21, verse 4, he says,
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. And death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning,
nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. There is that final embrace
as he welcomes us to himself for eternity. Wiping away tear, a tear is always an embrace,
always a loving embrace. And so Habakkuk reminds us in the chaos that surrounded him of this warm embrace.
And it reminds us today that as we trust in the Lord, he has that embrace for us.
We can have times of confusion. We can have times of mysterious providences that we don't understand.
But we can have times to always know the Lord's warmth and love and gracious embrace.
May we know it today and all our days. Let us pray.
Our Father in heaven, may you bless your word to us and remind us of the wonder of your providence,
how your ways are above our ways and your thoughts above ours.
But help us to pray your will be done. As we ask it all in Jesus' name. Amen.
We'll conclude by singing to God's praise in Psalm 35, page 44 of the psalm book.
We'll sing from verse 26 to 28.
Psalm 35, page 44.
May all who gloat at my distress, no shame and loss of face.
May all who triumph over me be covered with disgrace.
I will extol your righteousness, I will praise you with my tongue.
I will proclaim your greatness, Lord, and praise you all day long.
We'll sing these three stanzas to the tune of St. Andrew to God's praise.
Amen.
May all who gloat at my distress, no shame and loss of face.
May all who triumph over me be covered with disgrace.
May those who long to see me clear, shout out with joy and sing.
The Lord be praised, who loves to see the servant prospering.
I will extol your righteousness, I will praise you with my tongue.
I will proclaim your greatness, Lord, and praise you all day long.
After the benediction, I'll go to the door to my left.
We'll close with a benediction.
Now may grace, mercy, and peace from God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit rest upon and abide with you all now and forevermore.
Amen.
A.
Amen.